Bottle capper



H. G. RICE BOTTLE CAPPER July-ll, 1931.

Filed oct. l51, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 Eu/ 3 Jcwoc 61.75150@ July 14,1931. H. G. R1@ f 1,813,954

BOTTLE CAPPER Filed oct.' 51, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Eem HCL/10M Ciy'c@73% Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD G. RICE,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INDESTRO MFG.' G0., OF CHICAG,...

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BOTTLE CAPPER Application ledOctober 31, 1928. Serial No. 316,251.

My invention relates to bottle cappers of that type having a base, anupright or frame on the base formed with a rack bar, in the presentinstance a double rack` bar, a

rider slidable on the upright of the frame and having journaled orpivoted therein a pinion to engage the teeth of the rack bar andcarrying atv one side a handle or lever for turning the pinion or spurgear for causing the rider to be reciprocated on the upright for thepurpose of moving a capping head carried by the rider into and out ofcapping position.

The invention more particularly relates to l5 a novel construction ofbottle capper including the base, an upright mounted on the base,

' a rider slidable on the upright, and a lever associated with a pinionjournaled in the rider for actuating the rider in applying the caps tothe bottles and in raising the capping head with the rider when the caphas been applied so that it will clear the bot tle and permit the latterto be removed Jrom capping position.

The lever is normally keyed or operatively connected to the pinion forturning the latter in either direction to reciprocate the rider due tothe constant meshing of the pinion with the rack bars of the upright ofthe frame, but by manipulation of the pawl or dog on the handle, the`latter may be turned free of the pinion in either direction Withoutmoving the rider and after releasing the pawl, turned to raise or lowerthe rider and capping head a greater degree without turning the handlein a large arc or completely around so as to secure greater or lesspressure during the capping operation or for preliminarily adjusting therider Y and capping head to bottles of dii'erent heights or clearing thebottle after being capped. A

The device is so constructed that a very substantial and high-classarticle is produced and the fit between the parts or friction betweenthe rider and the upright, as well as due to the meshing ,of the pinionwith the rack bars, will permit the lever and rider, together with thecapping head carried thereby, to remain in its raised position clear ofthe bottle when the handle- 1s raised so as to leave both hands free to;carry on the capping operation if this bev desired. However, this is notnecessary or essential as the lever may normally drop or swing down tolower the rider and cap? ping head untilthe latter strikes the bottle,one hand being all that is usually required for inserting and removingthe bottles while the other hand is operating the handle or lever. Thetoothed mechanism may be conveniently manipulated while grasping thehandle so as to permit the handle to be turned free of its operatingshaft in either direction when this is desired.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a novel, strong, andattractive bottle capper construction including the frame comprised bythe base and upright and the rider Vand to attach the handle directly tothe aXis of the pinion instead of'forming a segment on the end of ahandle concentric to a pivot spaced from the end of the handle, thusinsuring more accurate mating of the pinion and rack bars and greaterleverage, so that greater pressure may be applied with less expenditureof manual e'fort.

With the above and other objects in View,

the invention consists in certain novel structure and arrangement ofparts to be herein after more particularly specified and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a per inaccordance with the` present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the lower part of the upright-and thebase in section. l

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section takenV on the `section line 3-3 of Figure1, `the base being shown in plan. Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on thesection line 4-4 of Figure. 1. 1

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the section line 5-5 of Figure4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the operating handle, andpawl and toothed mechanism taken on the section line 6-6 of Figure 5.

bottle capeeV lia Y 'their inner ends abut as seen in Fig. 7 is asectional view taken on the section line 7&7 of Figure 6, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the section line 8 8 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the bottle capper as illustratedcomprises a frame including a base 9, preferably a metal plate of somenon-rusting and non-corrosive metal, although it may be of any suitablesheet metal of proper stiffness. rlhis base or foot plate has suitableopenings 9 by which it may be anchored to a work table or othersupporting surface. The central portion of the base plate is raised asindicated at 10, being suitably pressed into shape if desired andadapted to support thereon the bottle to be capped. TWhile the base ispreferably shaped as shown and the raised portion 10 yis substantiallycircular at the front and of reduced width to correspond with the shapeof the base plate at the back, this is somewhat arbitrary but desirablein view of the fact that and the marginal portion may be rigidly securedto the supporting surface. The raised portion preferably has two spacedparallel depressions 11 forming stiliening ribs to give additionalstrength.

Arranged upon the base is the frame structure proper including atransversely arranged upright 12 in the form of a Hat bar of uniformthickness-enlarged in width at its lower portion as indicated at 13, orreversely, tapering upwardly while the upper portion is of uniformwidth. The lower end of the upright is bent forwardly at right angles toprovide an attaching foot 14 suitably anchored to the base as b y rivets15 passing through openings in these parts. These fastenings arepreferably located outwardly of the ribs 11 and the front edge of theangular end or foot 14 presents a concaved shoulder against which thebottle may abut, although the neck of the bottle must be alignedvertically with the capping head, to be later described, whether thebottle engages this shoulder or not.

To add rigidity and strength to Ythe upright as well as to theappearance of the capper, the bar 12 is reinforced with aplurality,'preferably a pair, of spaced parallel bars 16 arranged inback of and in contact with the upright bar 12 at their forward edgesand riveted through slots in the bar 12 as by means of lugs 17projecting from the forward edges of the bars 16. These bars arearranged longitudinally of the base at right angles to the bar 12 and at'their lower ends are formed with tongues 18 clinched throughcorresponding 4slots in the raised portionlO of the base 9, the tonguesbeing preferably turned inwardly so that Figure 1 of the drawings.

`The bars 16 also preferably taper upthe base will lie flat' 1,813,954.A j* f wardly to an intermediate point of the height of the upright bar12, their top edges being rounded off as indicated at 19 and formed withrecesses 2O to receive the edges of the bar 12 produced by slots 21therein. At this point the bars 16 are offset forwardly indicated at 22and the lower ends of these offset portions form shoulders 23 to engagethe lower edges of the slots 21, the same as at the top except that thecurved portion 19 of the bars 16 project up in back of the bar 12 andlock the parts in assembled relation. By reason of the offset portions22, the bars 16 are continued upwardly in front of the upright bar 12and have rearwardly projecting lugs riveted thereto through spaced slotsin the upright bar 12 as indicated at 24 near the top of the frame andat a point intermediately between the top and the offset portions. Theportions ofthe bars 16 which extend in front of the upright bar inparallel relation and have teeth forming rack bars 25. Y

rlhese bars are also spaced from the side edges of the bar 12 so thatthe projecting sides form flanges on a-substantially U- shaped ornishaped frame in cross section.

rThe rider is indicated at 26 and comprises side plates 27 with slopingfront edges which may be connected by a sloping top and front plate 28welded to the edges or formed integral with the side plates and producedby bending or forming the same as desired. These side plates are bent toform outwardly projecting guideways 29 which slidably engage the edgesof the upright bar 12 or flanges of the frame as more particularly shownin Figures l, 2, and 5 of the drawings while the side plates it againstthe outer faces of the rack bars for free sliding movement. Theguideways 29 are produced by bending the plates or sides 27 outwardly atright angles, then rearwardly, and then inwardlyT and engage the back ofthe bar 12 where' they may be con nected centrally thereof afterabutting, by means of outturned flanges 30 with rivets 31 disposedthrough registering openings therein. A capping head 32 is carried bythe rider, and in order to attach the same, the plates 27 may havesemi-circular depressions 33 with depending rivet lugs 34 at their loweredges upset after passing through slots in the top of the head. Anapertured cushion 35 may be provided in the capping head, it beingunderstood that the latter is designed to receive the bottle caps intheapplication thereof to the bottles and that the reduced rivet lugsmay be formed without projecting below the bottom edges of the plates orsides of the rider by recessing said plates on each side of the lugs asindicated at 36 to receive the top of the capping headthcrein.

12 are spaced apart y A handle 37 is pivoted onthe rider, the axis orshaft 38 thereof being preferably formed of stock material ribbed in themanner of a toothed pinion or spur gear, part of which is indicated at39 between the sides of the rider, and is adapted to mesh with the teethof the rack bars. The sides of the ridermay have tubular extensions 40and 41,*one end of the shaft being turned down as indicated at 42 totake in one opening or bearing 40 for rotation and having suitable meansto prevent its longitudinal displacement as by means of a gib key orcotter pin 43 disposed through a diametrihcal opening in the reducedportion 42 forming one journal end of the shaft outwardly of the bearing40. The opening or bearing 41 is larger than the bearing 40, beingsufficiently large to receive the toothed portion of the shaft. down toprovide a reduced portion 44 and a two-part brass, bronze or other softbushing 45 is fitted in this reduced portion to form a sleeve in whichsaid reduced portion may rotate.

The end of the shaft 3S on which the handle 37 is attached has adouble-acting toothed wheel 46 in the form of a sleeve keyed thereto,being internally grooved to take on a tapered or reduced portion of theribbed or toothed shaft as indicated at 47, and being fixed to the shaftwill rotate therewith. The toothed wheel has side flanges formingsleeves 48 on which the handle is free to turn by means of openings inthe enlarged side portions 49 at the inner end of the handle, whichlatter is formed by bending a strip or sheet of metal upon itself. p

A spacer 50 is provided between the portions 49 to keep them in spacedrelation while a rivet 5l extending through the spacer and sideportionsconnects the latter and prevents spreading thereof. rfhe dou- ,bleacting pawl has its teeth so formed that the shoulders 52 act inopposite directions. A pawl 52 is pivoted at 53 through the sides of thehandle and has a lug or detent 54 to engage the toothed wheel to fix thehan- `dle to the toothed whee-l so that the two will turn together.Normally the pawl is held into engagement with the toothed wheel by aspring 55 between the bight portion of the handle and the pawl,preferably seating in a recess or iiattened portion 56 of the handle andin a recess 5.7 in the pawl. The free end of the latter projects belowthe handle for convenient manipulation while grasping the handle orlever. By this means swinging of the handle will turn the shaft and byreason of its pinion meshing with the rack gears, the rider may becaused to reciprocate on the frame to raise the rider and capping head,whereby a bottle may be However, the shaft is turnedA inserted and a capapplied by swinging the handle down to lower the ridery and cappinghead. However, should it be desired to ad- Should it be desired toadjust the rider and capping head to a lower position, the pawl isdisengaged from the toothed wheel so that the handle may be swungupwardly while turning on the toothed wheel without turning the shaft orpinion and consequently without raising the rider. Then by releasing thepawl and swinging 'the handle down, with the pawl engaged with thetoothed wheel, the toothed wheel will be rotated together with the shaftand pinion while the latter is in mesh with the rack bars,'whereby therider and capping head will be lowered to apply the caps during thecapping operation after being adjusted to the desired position. It alsomay be mentioned that normally there is suificientfriction between theparts so that when the handle is swung upwardly to raise the rider andcapping head carried thereby out of capping position, the handle andparts may remain in this position leaving both hands free for otherwork. However, this is Anot absolutely essential as usually one hand issufficient for placing the caps in the capping head and the bottle inposition, while4 the other hand is used to operate the handle forapplying the caps and then removing the bottle so capped after raisingthe handle to elevate the rider and capping head out of cappingposition.

It also may be stated that turning the handle in a Yreverse directionthe rider may be caused to travel upwardly on the frame or rack harsuntil the pinion is free of the rackteeth, when the rider may be liftedoff or it may be reapplied and slid down'on the frame'by turning thehandle vin the opposite direction. The downward movement of the riderwill be limited by engagement of its back portions with the upper endsof the curvedportions 19 or the shoulders producer -thereby in back ofthe bar 12.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, lf amaware that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting Vfrom the principles of the invention, the, scope of from oneside of the rider, and a handle ro tatably mounted on the extended endof the shaft having a detent detachably locking said handle to saidshaft.

Y in the rider and having a pinion inmesh with the rack portion, atoothed member fiXed on the shaft, a handle free to turn on the shaft,and a detent carried by the handle to engage the toothed member.

3. A bottle capper comprising a base, an upright on the base liavingarack portion, a rider slidable on the upright, a` capping head carriedby the rider, a shaft Journaled in the rider and having a pinion iiimesh with the rack portion, a handle on the shaft outwardly of therider, and a detent mechanism detacliably locking said handle to saidshaft.

4. In a bottle capper, a base, an upright on the base including atransversely arranged bar having its lower end anchored to the base, alongitudinally arranged bar anchored to the base against the first barand having an upper rack portion, a rider slidable on the bars andhaving a. capping head, said rider having side portions con nected atthe front and bent to form guideways engaged with the side edgeslof'thefirst bar and at ,the back thereof, a pinion Jour- `naled in therider in mesh with the rack portion, a toothed member fastened to thepinion, a handle pivoted on the toothed member, and a spring detentcarried by the handle to engage the toothed member to cause the latterand the pinion to turn when the handle is moved and adapted ,tobe'released to permit the handle to turn free.

5. In a bottle capper, a frame including a base, a transversely arrangedupright on the base, longitudinally arranged bars anchored vto the baseat the back of the upright and extending through the same about midwayof its height and having shoulders engaging the first bar, said secondbars being spaced apart and extending up in front of the first v bar andanchored thereto as well as formed with rack teeth at their front edges,a rider slidable on the bars and having side plates connected at theirforward portion and outwardly extending guideways engaging the sideedges of the first bar and inturiied portions disposed against the backof the first bar, a pinion journaled in the rider, a capping head on therider, and a lever on the 1 pinion having a detent connection therewith.

6. In a bottle capper, a frame having an upright with apair of spacedrack bars, a rider slidable on the upright and having a capping head, aribbed shaft having a reduced end journaled in the rider and a rey ducedintermediate portion also journaled in the rider to provide a piniontherebetween engaged with the teeth of the rack bars, a ,toothed memberon the shaft, a handle journaled to operate over the toothed member, anda spring-pressed detent carried by the handle to engage the toothedmember, as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a device of the class described, a base member, a plate extendingupwardly from said base member and secured thereto, a pair of platesalso extending upwardly from said base member inspaced lparallelrelation in planes perpendicular to that of said first plate, the endsof said parallel plates extending through said base member and flangedover so as to substantially abut against each other and said parallelplates Xtending through said first plate so as-to in-Y terlocktherewith, said parallel plates having rack teeth formed thereon, arider slidably mounted on said first plate and carrying a .capping head,a piiiion joiiriialed in said rider and co-operating with said rackteeth, a handle secured to said pinion, a

toothed member carried by said pinion, and a spring-pressed detentcarried by said handle for disengaging said handle from operativerelation with said pinion.

8. In a device of the class described, a base member, a pair of barsextending upwardly from said base member and having rack teeth formed onthe upper portionV thereof, a rider slidably mounted on said bars andcarrying a capping head, a shaft Journaled in said rider and having apinion formed thereon cooperating with said'rack teeth, a toothed membercarried by said pinion, a handle rotatably mounted on said shaft andhaving a detent engageable with said toothed member for detachablylocking said handle to said shaft.

. HAROLD G. RICE.

